Security

Hundreds of millions of passwords were an open book at Facebook's internal servers.An internal investigation at Facebook in January found that hundreds of millions of passwords were stored in plain-text, allowing the social network's employees to easily find and these login credentials. In a blog post on Thursday, Pedro Canahuati, Facebook's vice president of engineering, security and privacy, said that they found "no evidence to date" that any staffers improperly accessed those passwords. The internal investigation was first reported by Krebs on Security.This is a developing story, please continue to check for updates. Apple's Showtime event: What to expect and how to watch: What we know so far about Apple's TV series, subscription news service and everything else it could announce at its next launch event on Monday, March 25. Galaxy S10 Plus review: No doubt about it, the Galaxy S10 Plus is going to be one of the best Android phones of 2019. … [Read more...] about Facebook found millions of passwords stored in plain-text in internal investigation

Microsoft brought its virus protection software to Mac Thursday, giving it a more inclusive name to boot.Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection is now called Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), and with that comes compatibility with Apple's MacOS, it revealed in a blog post.The ATP client can be installed on devices running macOS Mojave, macOS High Sierra or macOS Sierra. It offers the usual virus and threat protection along with quick and full-system scans.Right now, it's only available as a limited preview that Microsoft's business customers can sign up for. We don't know when Microsoft is planning to make the Mac version of its software widely available, and neither it nor Apple immediately responded to requests for further comment. It's the latest move by Microsoft to make its security software available to more people -- last week, it brought Windows Defender extensions to Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.First published at 4:42 a.m. PT.Updated at 5:25 a.m. … [Read more...] about Microsoft Defender can keep your Mac safe too

In the not too distant future, you could walk into the international terminal of almost any US airport and board a plane without showing anyone your passport. At the check-in counter, you'd pose in front of a camera that scans your face and sends your image to a remote system that matches it to a stored copy of your passport photo. You'd have your photo taken again at the security line, and again at the gate. If everything still matched up, you'd be onboard, quietly warring with your seat mate over the armrest.Part of that automated future has already rolled out at some US airports. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program, called Biometric Exit, includes a face-matching system and is used at departure gates in 17 airports. It's a start. The agency plans to have the system scan 97 percent of all outbound international travelers by 2021. Airlines and the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) also are testing facial recognition cameras throughout airports, meaning you might … [Read more...] about Facial recognition takes off at airports. Privacy experts want it grounded

At my bodega down the block, photos of shoplifters sometimes litter the windows, a warning to would-be thieves that they're being watched. Those unofficial wanted posters come and go, as incidents fade from the owner's memory. But with facial recognition, getting caught in one store could mean a digital record of your face is shared across the country. Stores are already using the technology for security purposes and can share that data -- meaning that if one store considers you a threat, every business in that network could come to the same conclusion. One mistake could mean never being able to shop again. While that may be good news for shopkeepers, it raises concerns about potential overreach. It's just one example of how facial recognition straddles the line between being a force for good and being a possible violation of personal privacy. Privacy advocates fear that regulations can't keep up with the technology -- found everywhere from your phone to selfie stations -- … [Read more...] about With facial recognition, shoplifting may get you banned in places you’ve never been